Confy on Ecocriticism @ Sikkim Government College

The Foundation for the Study of Literature and Environment

&

Sikkim Government College, Tadong

jointly organize an

International Conference

on

Why Ecocriticism!

November 21-23, 2017

at

Sikkim Government College, Tadong, NH-10, East District,

Gangtok - Sikkim

About FSLE-India

FSLE-India (nѐe ASLE-Delhi) is as an open academic forum for creative interaction among intellectuals, academicians, environmental activists, naturalists, nature-lovers, and those involved and earnestly dedicated to these issues and who are receptive and undogmatic to one another’s standpoints. It intends to amalgamate two relevant issues Gender and Human Rights with Literature and Environment primarily initiated by the Zonal Joint Secretary of ASLE-India, Rishikesh Kumar Singh, a researcher and counselor based in New Delhi, what he calls it the LEGH Movement (Literature, Environment, Gender and Human Rights). This is the first venture of its kind where all the four issues are juxtaposed together. This specialty makes this movement relevant. The head office of FSLE-India is in New Delhi and it operates in all the states of India.

About Sikkim Government College

The Sikkim Government College was established in 1977 as a small institution offering limited courses. Originally begun in rented rooms, it was later expanded and shifted to the present campus during 1984-85 and was, until recently, affiliated to the North Bengal University. The affiliation was shifted to Sikkim University in 2007. The college is governed by the Directorate of Higher Education, Human Resource Development Department, and Government of Sikkim.

The college has an enrolment of 3000 plus students, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds.

Why Ecocriticism!

The term ecocriticism, in general, is defined as the study of literature and the physical environment together. However, in its larger context, it could be seen as incorporating with

the numerous variants of human life. It juxtaposes literature with culture, geography, psychology and ecology sublimely. Since the term came into existence, it has been amiss interpreted. Especially in Indian context, it has never had a grand reception. In such academic milieu the question ‘Why Ecocriticism’ becomes relevant as it leads to raise some of the fundamental issues concerning environment. This question also tries to get an answer of most of the esoteric and labyrinth literary, cultural and social representations where the classicism and elitism neglected the concept of Real (Lacan). Nature never requires the language humans created, e.g., the question related to ‘water’ has nothing much to do with its literary representation, on the contrary, it assimilates the challenges faced due to its scarcity, wastage, hygiene, storage, availability and such other basic aspects. In fact, the theory of ecocriticism is based on the principle of praxis where the field welcomes the voice of the commons, the practices of the subaltern, the bonhomie between the aborigines and the nature and the inclusion of the conscious minds. Further, ecocriticism also evaluates and assay some of the most contemporary developed theories and concepts that prove its multidisciplinary approach which finds an interface of Neuroecology, Neuroecoaesthetics, Ecoaesthetics and Ecosurrogacy.

Devoted to the extensive study of such dichotomy (critical-simple) of Ecocriticism, FSLE-India associating with the Sikkim Gov. College, Tadong wishes to organize a three-day International Conference, inviting august and seasoned speakers as well as researchers from India and abroad to find out some pragmatic paradigm in the field of ecocriticism.

Call for Paper

We invite original research papers to discuss such grave issues largely related but not exclusively limited to the following sub-themes:

·        Literature and Ecology: A Comparative Ecocriticism

·        Concept of Space, Land and Nature

·        Posthumans and Ecology

·        Ecopoetry and Aesthetical Nuances

·        Gender and Ecology

·        Neuroecology: Neurons and the Nature

·        Social and Cultural perception of Ecocriticism

·        The Subaltern Voice and Ecology

·        The Rights of Aborigines and their Ecoculture

·        Myth and Ecology

·        Transculturism and Ecology: The Psychological Perspective

·        Ecology, Resistance and Identity

·        Indian Classical Texts and Ecology

·        Ecocinema and Postmodernity

·        Ecotheatre: The Rhapsodic Instinct

·        Sexuality and Plurality: An Ecological Interpretation

Abstracts of 500 words with 5 keywords, for a 15 minutes presentation, must be mailed to rishisengar2011@gmail.com or infofsle@gmail.com

Note: Please use 12 point Times New Roman and avoid footnotes.

Deadline for Abstract submission: 10th October 2017

Announcement of selected paper: 25th October 2017

Deadline for the final draft: 10th November 2017

The full paper must be within 3500-5000 words. Use the latest MLA style of referencing.

Selected Papers will be published in an edited volume with ISBN. (Not in the form of conference proceedings instead a complete edited book after the conference) Authors are requested to attach their bio-note (in third person, not exceeding 100 words) separately.

Registration Fee:

(*Registration process will begin after the acceptance of papers)

For further queries please contact:

Shobha Sharma, Convener Rishikesh Kumar Singh, Co-Convener

Associate Professor, Department of English, President, FSLE-India, New Delhi

Sikkim Gov. College. Mob: +91-9434109893 New Delhi. Mob: +91-9873633301

Email: shobhasharma13@gmail.com Email: rishisengar2011@gmail.com

Organizing Committee:

Patron: Dr. Lily Alley, Principal, Sikkim Govn. College

Organizing Secretaries:

1. Tshering N. Bhutia, Department of English, SGC

2. Roshan Khatiwara, Department of Education, SGC

3. Bikash Sharma, Department of English, SGC

How to Reach:

Nearest Railhead: New Jalpaiguri (NJP), 5 Kms from Siliguri

Nearest Airport: Bagdogra (IXB), 12 Kms from Siliguri

Bus/ Taxi service to Gangtok available from NJP, IXB and Siliguri

For the Brochure, click HERE